Passing Time in Prague

Ever since the early days of our German adventure--while we in Hamburg and I hadn’t started my exploratory adventures--people had been recommending Prague as a destination.

The architecture, the beauty, the people. All came highly recommended. But I had a list of conquests closer to home, so it was pushed to the “someday” part of the list.

One pocket of wonderful--this colorful synagogue
I saw on my walk from the train station to my hotel.

Well “someday” finally came recently, as I booked a weekend trip to Prague to see what this jewel of the Czech Republic had to offer. 

As I crossed the city that first afternoon, I admit I had mixed feelings. There were pockets of wonderful mixed in with what I had come to think of as “typical” European. Not unlovely by any means, but not special. 

I checked into my room (I had thought “Basement Rooms” was a reference to the relatively cheap room prices, but it turned out that my room and at least one other poor guest were literally in the basement of the hotel near the laundry room), grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to my early afternoon walking tour of the city. 

The Powder Tower

Here is where things picked up, as our enthusiastic guide led us around the Old City, which was much more architecturally interesting and charming than what I’d seen thus far. I made a mental list of things to do later, but ended up spending time after the tour wandering the city and enjoying the atmosphere.

The next morning, I retraced my steps from the tour to grab pictures of certain places where I had wanted to linger, climbed the tower in the town hall for an expanded view of the city, headed across the river to visit a specialty Christmas shop that turned out to be on the grounds of the castle, and wandered back through a sleepy part of town that housed the Kafka museum.

By mid-afternoon it was time to get to the train station, where I settled in comfortably for an easy ride back to Munich. 

Or so I thought. 

About an hour into the trip I came back to my seat after a bathroom break and found a strange sight on my phone (having been an iPhone user till I switched to a Google Pixel 2 last year, I didn’t recognize the stricken Android robot image for what it was). 

I seriously thought someone had hacked my phone in those few minutes I was in the restroom! But a quick search on my tablet (which thankfully I had brought with me and was connected to the train’s wi-fi) revealed a system error. After following the advice in various forums to no avail, I returned to Munich and took my phone into the store the next morning for service. 

I ended up having to wait an agonizing three days for a new phone, worrying the entire time if I'd have anything other than memories to show for my trip. Because the irony was that I was in the process of uploading my photos for safekeeping when I took that bathroom break.

Indeed, while the first day and first half of the second day were okay, I lost my photos of the castle cathedral exterior, video of the beautiful bells ringing while I was up there, and some interesting scenes around town (including the infamous two figures peeing into a fountain outside the Kafka museum).

Despite the stress of the last part of my experience, I enjoyed my time in Prague, and asked myself the same questions of every city or town I visit these days: 

• Did it offer something interesting? Yes. The history of the city itself is enough, but of course the shared history of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is also fascinating.

• Was it a lovely experience? Yes. The weather was cool but comfortable and sunny, the scenery was great, the people were friendly and there was a lot to see and do.

• Did I learn something? Yes. That I should have booked more time to hit more sights! :)

I love Rothenburg so much I took a
day trip there last month to see my
parents' contribution to the town wall
after our visit in 2016

• Was it my favorite European city I’ve visited so far? No. And to be fair, it will be hard for any city to beat the charm of Rothenburg (medieval walled city with a torture museum AND a Christmas museum? c'mon!!) or the perfection of Strasbourg at Christmas. But that doesn't stop me from looking...

• Could I ever see myself living here? Actually, yes. Prague has a nice mix of modern convenience and old-world appeal. I could see us carving out a niche there. 

One more bucket-list item accomplished. So many more to go...

Munich International Women’s Club (MIWC)

When Larry and I first moved to Walnut Creek, California, I joined a women’s group. My first encounter with them was a brunch at a member’s home on the other side of town. And I mean other side (economically speaking).

While we were happily crowing over our nearly half-million-dollar quaint cottage bargain in the San Francisco Bay Area, at this brunch I was walking into a miniature palace, complete with multiple princesses.

The question of the morning was not “what do you do?” It was “do you work?” 
I finally understood the “ladies-who-lunch” concept and it was not to my particular taste.

Starkbierfest ("strong beer" festival) 2018

So, when one of my best friends recommended looking into an international women’s club while I was here, I was reluctant. But after some research I was more heartened to learn they sponsored a charity and had conversation groups and museum and hiking outings and not just brunches and golf days.

I went to a meeting on a trial basis. The guest speaker was an opera singer who used breathing exercises and vocalization practice to help us literally and figuratively find our voices as women. I was hooked.

But I started my job about six months after joining the club, so soon I could only do weekend or weeknight activities. Yet each time I come back, it’s to open arms and familiar as well as instant new friends from Germany and around the world. 

The MIWC has been a great counterbalance to my solitary wanderings, and one of the things I cherish about my time in Munich.

Gingerbread house construction
is serious business

We created these beauties for the children of our charity

The Munich transportation museum had been on my list to visit,
and with the club I attended a private tour which lent itself to
personal reminiscences of changes in Munich over time.

One hike took us to the Mittenwald area, where a geological phenomenon
causes the ground to appear in waves

This year we scored a coveted spot
in the Faschingsparade

We were a small but spirited group
styling ourselves as the International Queens

Wrapping It Up (almost)

We all make promises to ourselves that we intend to, but unfortunately can not always, keep. My intentions for the end of this blog were grander than reality allowed.

And since signs have been popping up everywhere recently, I will relent and not let it linger uncertainly, which would be a disservice to you and all the great things we've explored together here.

It also looks like there are very different adventures waiting just around the corner for me!

I'll keep you in suspense on that for now, but in a few weeks we'll hit the two-year mark on my time in Munich, and following that will be the official wrap on the blog.

Till then, I'll share stories of my recent adventures and some bucket-list trips.

Hold on, the ride's not quite over yet!